"The Good Stuff"

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse welcome Healdsburg Bubble Bar owner Sarah Quider.   Tune in to hear Sarah’s inspiring journey — from discovering her passion for winemaking and rising to Winemaker at Ferrari-Carano and SVP of Winemaking for Foley Family Wines, to finding community in Healdsburg and opening the doors to her very own Bubble Bar and wine club.  

In episode 109 of “The Good Stuff,” hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with brothers Parke and Scott Hafner of Hafner Vineyard.  Learn how Scott and Parke's parents, Dick and Mary, felt drawn to life in Sonoma County,  relocating from Berkley to pursue their dreams of farming. Dick and Mary would go on to  purchase a prune orchard in the 1960’s which today is now a vineyard and winery...

In episode 109 of “The Good Stuff,” hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Aaron Piotter, Winemaker at Quivira Vineyards, whose deep Sonoma roots and lifelong connection to the land have shaped his thoughtful approach to winemaking Born and raised in Sonoma County, Aaron’s journey into winemaking is as unique as his wines — from developing an acute sense of smell and flavor through s...

In episode 108 of " The Good Stuff " hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Jenifer Freebairn, VP of Marketing and Sales at Lasseter Family Winery, whose non-traditional path into wine has become a story of passion, creativity, and purpose.  From a foundation in music and storytelling to shaping the voices of iconic Sonoma County wineries, Jenifer has built a career around connection...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to  Joe Pozzi,  lifelong Sonoma County rancher, and owner of Pozzi Ranch.  From growing up on his family’s multi-generational ranch to becoming a leader in regenerative agriculture and local wool production, Joe’s story reflects the deep agricultural roots, innovation, and...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to  Heidi Bridenhagen, Director of Winemaking at MacRostie Winery. Tune in as Heidi discusses her journey from growing up in an agricultural community in Wisconsin to discovering her passion in Sonoma County’s wine industry.   From her early days working in cellars, labs, a...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to C arolyn Bordes, founder of Bordes Wines in Sonoma    Tune in as Carolyn shares her journey from equestrian in New England to Sonoma County vintner, her passion for hospitality and food pairings, and the inspiration she finds working alongside her daughters in their fami...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Erica Larson, COO of Larson Family Winery, and Hayden Puryear, DTC Manager at Larson Family Wines. Tune in as Erica and Hayden discuss the unique history of her family's property in Sonoma, which  includes a ghost town and former home to the Sonoma County Rodeo, and shar...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to John Hamel, Winemaker and Director of Winegrowing at Hamel Family Wines.    Tune in as he shares his passion for organic and biodynamic farming, and how a deep connection to the land guides his approach to crafting wines with intention and vision.  

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Matt Taylor, Winemaker at Mascarin Family Wines . A third-generation Sonoma County native, Matt has deep roots in the region and a profound connection to the Sonoma Coast AVA. Known for its diverse microclimates and rugged terrain, the Sonoma Coast inspires his work, sha...

In this episode of “The Good Stuff” presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Shelly Rafanelli, winemaker at A. Rafanelli Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Shelly shares the story of her family’s deep roots in Sonoma County, and making connections through wine. She reflects on her journey to becoming a winemaker, carrying forward her family’s legacy...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Mike Sullivan, winemaker and Co-owner of  Benovia Vineyards .   Mike talks about growing up in Sonoma County, his early interest in the wine industry, and taking the leap to co-found Benovia Winery in the Russian River Valley.  Mike reflects on a few of his "WOW" wine mo...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Bill Nachbauer, owner of Alegria Vineyards .   Bill shares how he and his wife Betsy made the leap from a career in law and public policy to farming grapes in Sonoma County, where Bill's family roots stretch back to the 1860s. Bill recalls the moment in 1989 when he firs...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to  Jen Berman, General Manager, and Phillip Dube, Winemaker at North Coast Wine Co. , to discuss North Coast Wine and the Outerbound wine label.  Phillip shares his unconventional journey from practicing law on the East Coast to winemaking across continents—from South Afri...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Mark Stark, Executive Chef & Co-Founder, and Terri Stark, Hospitality Director & Co-Founder of Stark Reality Restaurants . The husband-and-wife team provide a behind the scenes look into Stark Reality Restaurants, a collection of eight locally loved restaurants i...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Jack Florence,  Founder of Florence Vineyard and Author of Dare to Dream . Jack shares his story of trading a career in nuclear engineering for a life among the vines in Sonoma County. Originally from New York, Jack spent over two decades in the nuclear energy industry,...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to  Karen Francis Degolia,  Owner of Limerick Lane Cellars .  Karen shares the early days of bringing Limerick Lane back to life in the 1990s, working alongside Tom Collins to revive long-dormant vineyards. She shares what it was like to walk through the property for the fi...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Kevin Bersofsky, Owner and winemaker of  Montagne Russe Wines , and Steve Sangiacomo, Third Generation Winegrower and Partner at  Sangiacomo Family Vineyards and Winery , about the Petaluma Gap and the upcoming Wind to Wine Festival  on August 8th-10th!  Kevin’s path to...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Andrea Robinson, Master Sommelier, Chef, Television Personality, and Author. Andrea shares her remarkable journey to becoming one of only 28 women in the world to hold the Master Sommelier title. She was the first woman ever named Best Sommelier in the U.S., currently cu...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to  Rick Hutchinson Owner, President, and Winemaker of Amphora Winery  and his wife and partner, Bridget. A Sonoma County native, Rick’s winemaking journey began humbly at age 20 on the bottling line at Sebastiani Winery. A single step into the cellar—and the nostalgic scen...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Dani Price, Proprietor of  Fat Dragon Wines . Dani’s journey in wine spans more than 14 years building and managing two of the most dynamic corporate wine programs in the world—including her time as Executive Director of Wine for Wynn Resorts, where she led a $42 million...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Dayna Ghiradelli,  Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau . A proud Petaluma native, Dayna takes us through her inspiring path in agriculture—from growing up on a dairy farm and participating in 4-H and FFA, to now leading one of Sonoma County’s most influen...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to John Balletto, President & Founder of  Balletto Vineyards . John shares the remarkable story of growing up in West Sebastopol, working on his family’s five-acre vegetable farm from a young age. After his father’s untimely passing in 1977, John turned down college ath...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Christopher Strieter,  Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Senses Wines . Christopher grew up in Occidental alongside childhood friends—and fellow Senses Co-Founders—Max Thieriot and Myles Lawrence-Briggs. Their families all moved to the area in the 1980s to raise their children...

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the  Sonoma County Winegrowers , hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Nico Diana, Co-Owner of  Ca'Bianca Ristorante Italiano . Born in San Francisco and raised in Sonoma County, Nico grew up in the heart of the family business. From doing homework at the bar to bussing tables on holidays, Nico’s early years were shaped by the rhythms of re...